Netherlands – Turkey Preview
Netherlands do not have too many injury worries ahead of Friday’s game, but will still be without a number of regulars.
Louis van Gaal already dropped Mark van Bommel and Khalid Boulahrouz after Euro 2012, and has now opted to leave out Gregory van der Wiel, Nigel de Jong, Rafael van der Vaart and Ibrahim Afellay as well as he feels they lack match practice and have been too busy with transfers in the past few weeks.
Therefore, Ajax youngster Ricardo van Rhijn is expected to start at right-back, while Twente star Leroy Fer is likely to take De Jong’s place in midfield.
Utility man Sabri Sarioglu is unavailable, too, and Besiktas striker Mustafa Pektemek recently sustained a serious knee injury that will keep him out of action for a while.
Galatasaray midfielder Selcuk Inan will be hoping to get the chance to prove his worth against the Dutch, but it seems as if the 27-year-old might miss out on a starting berth.
Slovenia – Switzerland dnb 2 @ 1,83
Switzerland impresed me in last game with Croatia (tre, there is also guilty on other side, speciall new coach Stimac but..) and they have very good, young and perspective squad. Players like Shaqiri and Xaka are future and there are also Dzemaili, Behrami, barnetta..Quality side..on the other side i dont belive in Slovenia team
With first choice keeper Samir Handanovic the only notable missing, Slovenia go into this game in great spirits
Experienced keeper Jasmin Handanovic is likely to replace his cousin in goal, while Zlatan Dedic and Tim Matavz are expected to form the attacking partnership.
Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): J. Handanovic – Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic – Kirm, Vrsic, Radosavljevic, Birsa – Dedic, Matavz.
The Swiss are an up and coming side with tremendous amount of potential and attacking prowess, as witnessed by the 5-3 victory over Germany and 4-2 triumph over Croatia.
Ottmar Hitzfeld has done well to get rid of senior strikers Alexander Frei and Streller, who were doing the team more harm than good, with Mario Gavranovic and Eren Derdiyok now given a chance to impress.
With the likes of Behrami, Inler, Dzemaili and Shaqiri in the centre of the park and some very experienced players at the back, the Swiss look a good bet
The visitors arrive to Slovenia at full strength and they are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Benaglio – Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Djourou, Rodriguez – Inler, Xhaka – Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Barnetta – Derdiyok.
Wales – Belgium 2 @ 2,0
First 11 Belgium squad is 3rd most expencive squad on world (just Brazil and Portugal more expencive)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) and Axel Witsel (Zenit SP) are buyed for 40 mil euros each, Tottenham give 15 mil e foe Moussa Dembele from Fulham and 10 mil e for Jan Vertioghen..Vincent Kompany (35 mil e) is Manchester City captein just like Thomas Vermaelen (18,5 mil e) in Arsenal..
The news has come through that for Belgium Lukaku is injured, so new Villa signing Christian Benteke leads against Wales tomorrow for Belgium.
WALES manager Chris Coleman has been hit by a triple injury blow ahead of the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign against Belgium on Friday.
As well as the Swansea City left-back, Coleman will also be without striker Craig Bellamy, who has withdrawn from the squad due to a calf injury.
And Brighton midfielder Andrew Crofts will also miss out after picking up an ankle injury.
Bellamy’s Cardiff team- mate Rob Earnshaw is the only person to have been called into the squad as cover.
Coleman has already been hit hard by injury problems with Celtic’s Joe Ledley (groin), Sunderland’s David Vaughan (groin), Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey (knee) and West Ham’s Jack Collison (knee) all absent from his initial 23-man selection.
Uncapped Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams was included in the squad, as was Leicester’s Andy King.
Wales’ squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Aberdeen), Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion), Lewis Price (Crystal Palace).
Defenders: Darcy Blake (Crystal Palace), James Collins (West Ham United), Chris Gunter (Reading), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town), Adam Matthews (Celtic), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Ben Davies (Swansea).
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Liverpool), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andy King (Leicester City), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, capt), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), Simon Church (Reading), Steve Morison (Norwich City), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff City).
Belgium probably line up
Courtois-Gillet-Kompany-Vermaelen-Lombaerts-Vertonghen-Fellaini-Witsel-Dembélé-Hazard-Lukaku
Colombia – Uruguay 1 @ 2,3
uruguay with reserves
The airline carrying the luggage of choice ‘Uruguayan’ suffered a drawback and could not arrive in time for the match against Colombia in the sky. In this situation, Oscar Tabarez’s team would have to use the alternative uniform Junior de Barranquilla.
Moldova – England
Johnson adds to Hodgson´s injury woes
Left-back Ashley Cole has joined the growing list of absentees for England’s first World Cup qualifier in Moldova on Friday.
Johnson and Cole joins Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jack Wilshere in missing the start of England’s World Cup qualification campaign.
The injuries will give some of the lesser known players in the squad the chance to shine, with Leighton Baines, Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck all likely to feature.
Also need to mention that striker Defoe had two family tragedy this year (father and cousain) and his mentas state is questionable
MOLDOVA
![]() Namasco Bulgaru, Racu, Epureanu, Armas Gatcan, Patras Covalciuc, Onica, Doros Picusciac |
ENGLAND
![]() Hart Walker, Cahill, Terry, Baines Lampard, Carrick Milner, Gerrard, Oxlade-Chamberlain Welbeck |
Russia – Northern Ireland
In team news, O’Neill will have to do without defender Shane Ferguson (groin) and striker Martin Paterson (hamstring), while Celtic midfielder Paddy McCourt is set to miss both this weekend’s match and next Tuesday’s clash against Luxembourg with a groin strain.
Meanwhile, new Russia boss Fabio Capello, who took over from Dick Advocaat in July, has named several changes in his squad, with Lokomotiv Moscow striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin both left out.
Reading hitman Pavel Pogrebnyak has also been overlooked, while Yuri Zhirkov and Sergei Semak both miss out through injury.
Also need to mention there are big fights in country between catholics and protestants
Bulgaria – Italy
As for Bulgaria, Dimitar Berbatov has decided against coming out of international retirement for his country’s qualifying campaign, meaning national team boss Lubo Penev must decide between Ivelin Popov and Iliyan Mitsanski, who netted the only goal of the game in last month’s friendly win over Cyprus, for the lone striking role.
BULGARIA
![]() Mihaylov Manolev, Bodurov, Ivanov, V. Minev Tonev, Milanov, Gadzhev, Sarmov Gargorov Popov |
ITALY
![]() Buffon Bonucci, Barzagli, Ogbonna Pirlo Maggio, De Rossi, Marchisio, Giaccherini Giovinco, Osvaldo |
Finland – France
Didier Deschamps has a lengthy injury list to contend with ahead of his first competitive game in charge of his country, with the likes of Mathieu Debuchy and Bacary Sagna yet to maintain full fitness in the 2012-13 season.
The former Marseille boss confirmed on Thursday that Olivier Giroud will not play any part in Friday’s encouter, with the possibility deemed too risky by the 43-year-old. Instead, France are likely to revert to a 4-3-3 with Karim Benzema flanked by Jeremy Menez and Franck Ribery.
Deschamps also revealed that his centre-back pairing would be Mamadou Sakho and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, with Laurent Koscielny still yet to start a game since the Euro 2012 exit to Spain in June.
FINLAND
![]() Hradecky Toivio, Pasanen, Moisander, Arkivou Ring, R Eremenko, Sparv, A Eremenko Pukki, Kuqi |
FRANCE
![]() Lloris Reveilliere, Sakho, Yanga-Mbiwa, Evra Diaby, Cabaye, Mavuba, Menez, Benzema, Ribery |
Germany – Faroe Islands
Joachim Low will be able to welcome back several familiar faces after naming a much-changed side for their recent friendly loss to Argentina. Philipp Lahm returns, but will play at right-back as opposed to left-back, with Marcel Schmelzer keeping his place on the left-hand side of defence and Jerome Boateng dropping to the bench.
Manuel Neuer will certainly come in for Ron-Robert Zieler in goal, while Lukas Podolski is likely to reclaim his spot on the left wing, but another returning player, Per Mertesacker, will find his path to a centre-back berth blocked by Holger Badstuber and Mats Hummels, whose partnership continues to blossom.
However, there is no return for the unfit Bastian Schweinsteiger, leaving Toni Kroos to continue alongside Sami Khedira in the deep-lying midfield positions, while Miroslav Klose will retain his place up front in light of Mario Gomez’s ankle injury.
Faroe Islands, meanwhile, are expected to make a couple of changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Nordic rivals Iceland in a friendly in August..
GERMANY
![]() Neuer Lahm, Hummels, Badstuber, Schmelzer Khedira, Kroos Muller, Ozil, Podolski Klose |
FAROE ISLANDS![]() Nielsen Naes, Baldvinsson, Faero, Jacobsen Benjaminsen, Hansson Elttor, Holst, Udsen Edmundsson |
Luxembourg – Portugal
Read Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh) and Pepe (ankle) should both return to the Portugal side despite missing training with slight injuries.
Joubert
Hoffman, Blaise, Schnell,
Bettmer, Peters, Leweck, Gerson, Payal, Mutsch,Joachim
Rui Patricio
Pereira, Coelho, Pepe, Coentrao
Moutinho, Meireles, Veloso
Ronaldo, Oliveira, Nani
Kazakhstan – Republic of Ireland
Berenek will be without the experienced midfielder Andrei Karpovich, while the Russia-based Aleksei Popov and Kazbek Geteriev are unavailable.
KAZAKHSTAN
![]() Sidelnikov Kirov, Rozhov, Mukhtarov, Schmidtgal Ost’enko, Nurd’ov, Kony’ev, Kukeev, Engel Gridin |
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND![]() Westwood O’Shea, St Ledger, O’Dea, Ward McGeady, Whelan, McCarthy, Cox Walters, Keane |
Scotland – Serbia
Scotland manager Craig Levein has been hit by several injury problems in the build-up to their opening group match against Serbia at Hampden Park.
Phil Bardsley and Steven Whittaker (both ankle) were already unavailable after knocks ruled them out of the start of the Premier League season. Scott Brown (hip) and Darren Fletcher (bowel) were not considered for selection.
Southampton defender Danny Fox (groin) and Norwich defender Russell Martin (ankle) are also both out, and have been replaced in the squad by Huddersfield Town’s Paul Dixon and MK Dons defender Gary MacKenzie. Rangers defender Lee Wallace may have been called into the squad ahead of Dixon however he is unavailable (hamstring).
The Tartan Army will also been sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Allan McGregor (groin) who should be fit to play whilst full-back Charlie Mulgrew is also doubtful (Achilles).
Central defender Christophe Berra has joined up with squad late following the birth of his daughter, and is in line for a start alongside Gary Caldwell.
One man who is not available is £12 million Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher who has withdrawn himself from selection for Scotland.
The Serbs will be without arguably their best known player, Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic, after his retirement from international duty last year.
Adem Ljajic, who once was on the books at Old Trafford has not been selected after not singing the national anthem in a previous game.
SCOTLAND
![]() McGregor Hutton, Berra, Caldwell, Mulgrew Maloney, Morrison, Webster, Adam, Snodgrass, Miller |
SERBIA
![]() Stojkovic Ivanovic, Subotic, Nastasic, Kolorov Mijailovic, Ninkovic, Petrovic, Matic, Tosic, Lekic |
Spain vs Saudi Arabia
![]() Casillas Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Busquets Pedro, Torres, Iniesta |
SAUDI ARABIA ![]() Abdullah Al-Zori, Hawsawi, Al-Mousa, Al-Sharani Al-Fraidi, Al-Jassim, Ali-Kariri, Al-Shalhoub Al-Qahtani, Al-Shamrani |
Argentina vs Paraguay
he only doubt for Alejandro Sabella going in to Friday’s World Cup qualifier was the system he would play, with the 11 men set to be the same whether the coach opted for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The ex-Estudiantes man will put faith in the attacking trident that has been used to such devastating effect in his reign, with Ezequiel Lavezzi entering for the suspended Sergio Aguero alongside Messi and Higuain. Javier Mascherano’s suspension also opens the door for Estudiantes’ Rodrigo Brana to start.
ARGENTINA
![]() Romero Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo Gago, Brana, Di Maria Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi |
PARAGUAY
![]() Villar Veron, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Ortiz Riveros, Oviedo, Caceres, Estigarribia Fabbro, Santa Cruz |
In his first competitive match for Paraguay since taking over from sacked predecessor Francisco Arce, Gerardo Pelusso has gone for a team that will defend in numbers at the back, his 4-4-2 system designed to frustrate the Albiceleste’s dangermen. The big news for the Guarani is a first competitive start for Argentina-born forward Jonny Fabbro, who became eligible for the nation in 2012 after completing the necessary five years of residency in Paraguay.
Ecuador v Bolivia
Usually this would be hendicep for away side when coming in Quito (Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa on 2800 meters) but Bolivians will not have problems with it (la Paz is on 3600, Potosi on 3934, oruro on 3700..)..but Bolivia will miss some players (cardozo, Campos, Escobar..)
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